John Harding

Latest posts by John Harding

Lol I've had no problem with slugs at all pellets go over the garden fence and hedges and all over my paths and between my rows of veg every week when we get a break in the rain I attack them. I make sure I throw them down a the hard to reach places too like down the side of my garden sheds. if you stay on top there never a problem just attack them on all fronts and be cheeky throw pellets next door lol

Do you have any hedgehogs, frogs, toads, birds or other wildlife in your garden at all?

My thoughts exactly Dove but I didn't respond to CH's post because I couldn't have been as polite as you were. Even to 'joke' about throwing slug pellets indiscriminately over next door could encourage others to do so too! - apart from the fact that his description of scattering them all over his property with no regard at all for other wildlife - I'm guessing many other dedicated gardeners who use this forum will feel affronted. What a pleasure it was to visit HRH Prince Charles' garden yesterday where his efforts to promote fully organic gardening are clearly evident. OK none of us the space or finance to do what he has on that scale but we can do what we can in our own way without helping to wipe out everything that comes our way in order to grow a few 'exhibition quality' plants!

If it is tripping the RCD (Residual Current Device [replaces fuses]) then that is an indication of a serious fault. Personally I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole (as the saying goes) until it has been inspected and tested by a qualified electrician. The very fact of it tripping out the electrics is the warning sign all is not well. From your description I would say it is not a case of the motor seizing up but a serious fault that could kill someone if they decide to plug it into a source not protected by an RCD and try and use it.

My advice is give it back to her with a label tied to it stating 'Electrical Fault - DO NOT USE' + 'Une défaillance électrique, ne pas utiliser. (= same statement in French) and tell her you have been advised it MUST be checked out by a qualified person.

Is anyone else having problems with the log-on section of this forum? I log on, read a few posts, answer a couple of posts then discover I'm no longer logged on and have to enter all my details again. This has happened a number of times this evening and I've only been using the PC for about an hour - but continuously! i.e. I haven't logged of, closed the lid of my laptop or gone to another site. It does get a bit irritating when it keeps logging me off

Is anyone else having problems with the log-on section of this forum? I log on, read a few posts, answer a couple of posts then discover I'm no longer logged on and have to enter all my details again. This has happened a number of times this evening and I've only been using the PC for about an hour - but continuously! i.e. I haven't logged of, closed the lid of my laptop or gone to another site. It does get a bit irritating when it keeps logging me off

A friend Eileen has just been talking to on the phone has said that at East Lambrook Manor Gardens, just across the road from there is a pub that does fabulous food at really good prices so it looks as though lunch is sorted as well.

Try Nemasys slug & snail nematodes which destroy gastropods from the inside and other animals eating them are not affected. I had an infestation of vine weevil grubs that were destroying all my seedlings when they were about 1.1/2" high by just eating the roots off. One application of Nemasys vine weevil treatment and problem ceased to exist. I'm guessing I will need to do another treatment in a few months time but it is worth it.

Had a brilliant day today: took OH to Highgrove, Nr Tetbury where we had the guided tour of the gardens then lunch in the Restaurant (our daughter's birthday present to her mum). Weather was a little overcast at first but brightened up before the tour concluded and there was no rain (thankfully). OH (Eileen) said that was the best birthday present she has ever had. Bought her a couple of Heucheras in the Highgrove shop which she is very pleased with and has planted them out already.

Just asked 'where shall we go tomorrow' - she hadn't thought about that so I suggested East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Nr South Petherton, Somerset, which features in the RHS 'Gardens' magazine this month.

Pressure washers have a habit of the motor seizing up if they are left for a long time without being used. I had a Stihl PW that did this but the end of the motor shaft had a hexagon socket in the end that you could put an Allen key into and work the motor free. Had it for 20 years and was a good tool but eventually the motor burnt out so I have replaced the PW with a new one (same make).

Look for the end of the motor shaft and see if there is some way to turn the rotor to get it moving (or if it's already free to move you will know that's not the problem).

If the capacitor has blown it should be fairly obvious as when they go it's usually with a big flash & bang and the capacitor blows apart leaving a black sooty deposit behind which you will have to ask Sweep to clear up!

As the machine is electrical & pumping water you should have it PAT tested by a qualified electrician after you've looked at it/done anything to it 'cos if anything goes wrong and someone gets hurt guess who the finger will be pointing towards.

I agree the shrub looks like a Choisya: the bug looks like a capsid bug - unlikely to do any great harm in the garden, they are sap suckers not predators and if you squash them you will have a nasty niff on your hands - literally!